HOHM, Irene Helene
Irene Hohm of Calgary, AB, passed away on Tuesday, February, 9, 2021 at the age of 89 years.
Irene is now singing sweetly in heaven with her beloved husband, Rev. Irvin H. Hohm who passed away in 2004. Irene was born on June 11, 1931, the first of three children to Johann and Matilde Bardua.
Following her graduation from Normal School in Saskatoon, she taught school near Saskatoon. After their marriage in Regina on August 23, 1952, Irene and Irvin embarked on a journey though western Canada spreading the Good News. Over the following fifty years they made lasting friendships while serving congregations in Hanna, AB, Melville, SK, Brandon, MB, Edmonton, AB, Calgary, AB, Norman Wells, NWT and Jasper, AB, and in their retirement, a mission in N’Gaoundere, Cameroon, Africa, and a short interim in Grande Prairie, AB.
While raising a family of six lively children, Irene earned her B. Ed and resumed teaching in elementary schools in Calgary, Norman Wells, preschool in Jasper, and English to young adults in the Cameroon. In retirement in Invermere, BC, Irene loved singing with her beautiful soprano voice in church choirs and the Valley Voices, GoGo Grannies, knitting for grandchildren and the Christmas bureau, book club and Bible studies.
Irene was a wonderful role model for the community at large and especially for her children and their families. Irene was truly an angel on earth – genuinely kind, never judgemental, always speaking nicely of the people she knew and loved. We can all learn from her example.
Irene is survived by her children, Elizabeth (Dick) Olver, Tim (Linda), David (Shelagh), Dale (Chari), Brian and Chris
(Rosanna); fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandsons. Irene is also survived by her sister, Ruth Bardua and brother Walter (Glori) Bardua.
For those wishing to remember Irene, in lieu of flowers, we ask that you honour her memory by being kind to everyone and singing a joyous song for all to hear.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at Prince of Faith Lutheran Church. Family and friends are invited to join Mrs. Hohm’s service streamed live on the funeral home website on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Irene’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.
In living memory of Irene Hohm, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS &
HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.
Condolences from Alan and Alison Cartwright, Moberly Lake (formerly Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope, and Yellowknife. Irene has been part of our “family” since the Norman Wells days in 1985. Latterly she was on the visit list every time we made the trek to the East Kooteney every summer to visit family. There was an annual lunch date every summer in Invermere with Irene, my mother in law, and two other friends, the combined age of the four of them was close to 400. Irene was an educator, a Mum, and a minister’s wife and she shone in all those roles. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to her daughter, Beth, who managed to get us back in contact with Irene at Christmas time last December. Emails were exchanged and news passed on. She will be missed – but what a life.